QUEBEC, September 14, 2016

First round matches continued on Tuesday at the WTA National Bank Cup presented by Mazda.
In addition to winning her opening doubles match, Françoise Abanda (Montreal, QC) posted an impressive 7-6(7), 6-4 straight sets victory over sixth-seeded German Mona Barthel in her first singles match.  This is Abanda’s first main draw triumph in Quebec in three tries. The 19-year-old will face US-American Jessica Pegula in round two on Thursday.

Defending champion Annika Beck falls in the opening round (photo: National Bank Cup)

Earlier in the day. fourth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany was upset by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 7-6(1). No. 5 seed Naomi Broady of Great Britain was also defeated 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by 19-year-old Océane Dodin of France.

In the biggest surprise of the day, defending champion Annika Beck of Germany was knocked out in the opening round by Barbora Stefkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 after holding a lead of 6-2, 5-2. Stefkova got into the main draw following the withdrawal of Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

“I was a little bit lucky to get in as a lucky loser,” she said after the match. “It definitely wasn’t an easy match because she doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. She’s really solid from the baseline, running so much. There weren’t too many easy points for me, but I’m happy I made it.”

Eugenie Bouchard (Montreal, QC) kicked off her tournament in doubles on Tuesday night alongside US-American Jessica Pegula. The pair were defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Russians Alla Kudryavtseva and Alexandra Panova. Carol Zhao (Richmond Hill, ON) and Jamie Loeb also lost in the first round.
Bouchard will begin her singles campaign on Wednesday night at 7:15 p.m. against Mandy Minella of Luxembourg. Abanda will close the night in doubles with her partner Elena Bovina.